Views on abortion

Public polling, as seen below (sourced from Gallup[1]), reveals that Americans are increasingly calling themselves Pro-Life (50%) and continue to say abortion should be legal only in a few circumstances (59%) such as rape (75%) and life of the mother (83%).

Contents

Legal or Illegal

According to Gallup's most recent poll (May 3–6, 2012), 20% of Americans believe abortion should always be illegal, and 39% believe it should be legal only in a few circumstances, a combined 59% that believe it should always or usually be illegal. 25% believe abortion should always be legal, and 13% believe that it should be legal in most circumstances, a combined 38% that believe it should always or usually be legal. 4% hold no opinion. The percentage of Americans which believe abortion should always or usually be illegal has varied from a low of 51% (Sept. 6-7, 1994, and Sept. 22-24, 1995) to a high of 62% (May 2–5, 2005). Gallup has polled the question 33 times since it began asking in 1994.[2]

Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice

Currently, 50% of Americans describe themselves as Pro-Life, 41% describe themselves as Pro-Choice, and 4% as Mixed/Neither, as of the most recent poll (May 3–6, 2012). The percentage of Americans describing themselves as Pro-Life has varied from a low of 33% (Sept. 3-6, 1995) to a high of 51% (May 7–10, 2009). Gallup has polled the question 41 times since it began asking in 1995.[1]

By Trimester

Gallup has asked the following question four times from 2003-2011: "Thinking more generally, do you think abortion should generally be legal or generally illegal during each of the following stages of pregnancy. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?"[1]

1st Trimester

The following results were given for "In the first three months of pregnancy" (1st Trimester):

Polling Date

Should be legal

Should be illegal

Depends (vol.)

No opinion

2011, June 9–12

62%

35%

2%

1%

2003, January 10–12

66%

29%

3%

2%

2000, March 30-April 2

65%

31%

2%

2%

1996, July 25–26

64%

30%

4%

2%

2nd Trimester

The following results were given for "In the second three months of pregnancy" (2nd Trimester):

Polling Date

Should be legal

Should be illegal

Depends (vol.)

No opinion

2011, June 9–12

24%

71%

3%

2%

2003, January 10–12

25%

68%

4%

3%

2000, March 30-April 2

24%

69%

4%

3%

1996, July 25–26

26%

65%

7%

2%

3rd Trimester

The following results were given for "In the last three months of pregnancy" (3rd Trimester):

Polling Date

Should be legal

Should be illegal

Depends (vol.)

No opinion

2011, June 9–12

10%

86%

2%

1%

2003, January 10–12

10%

84%

4%

2%

2000, March 30-April 2

8%

86%

3%

3%

1996, July 25–26

13%

82%

3%

2%

By Circumstances

According to the most recent Gallup poll (June 9–12, 2011), the following percentages of Americans say abortion should be legal under each circumstance:[1]

Circumstance

Should be legal

Should be illegal

Depends (vol.)

No opinion

When the woman's life is endangered

83%

13%

1%

3%

When the woman's physical health is endangered

82%

15%

1%

2%

When the pregnancy was caused by rape or incest

75%

22%

1%

2%

When the woman's mental health is endangered

61%

35%

2%

2%

When there is evidence the baby may be mentally impaired

51%

46%

2%

2%

When there is evidence the baby may be physically impaired

50%

45%

2%

3%

When the woman or family cannot afford to raise the child

36%

61%

1%

2%

Pro-Life Initiatives

According to Gallup's most recent poll (July 15–17, 2011) these proposals by the Pro-Life movement have received the following public support levels. Those marked "(2005)" were polled most recently on November 11–13, 2005. Those marked "(2003)" were last polled on January 10–12, 2003.[1]

Proposal

Favor

Oppose

No opinion

(2003) A law requiring doctors to inform patients about alternatives to abortion before performing the procedure

88%

11%

1%

A law requiring doctors inform patients about possible risks of abortion before performing the procedure

87%

11%

2%

A law requiring women under 18 to get parental consent for any abortion

71%

27%

2%

A law requiring women seeking abortions to wait 24 hours before having the procedure done

69%

28%

3%

A law making partial birth abortions illegal except for life of the mother

64%

31%

5%

(2005) A law requiring that the husband of a married woman be notified if she decides to have an abortion

64%

34%

2%

A law requiring women seeking an abortion be shown an ultrasound image of her fetus at least 24 hours before

50%

46%

3%

A law letting pharmacists and health providers opt out of medicine/surgical procedures resulting in abortion

46%

51%

4%

(2005) A constitutional amendment to ban abortion in all circumstances, except to save the life of the mother

37%

61%

2%

Sources

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↑Gallup. "Abortion." Do you think abortion should be legal in most circumstances or only in a few circumstances?